This month has a marathon feel to it!

Many have asked me if I was running the London Marathon, but this year I have a different path - travelling abroad each month  to race and write about it in Running Free magazine as the roving reporter. For my first commission I ended up writing about 'not running the Nice 10k' as ash stopped play! But as I write this, it is marathon day and many thousands of people will be resting their weary bodies and hopefully enjoying a relaxing evening. Some will have achieved their goals and some exceeded expectations, but for some there will have been disappointment and the race plan drifting away - in its place just the longing for a finish line. The London marathon is simply a foot race but it has captured the imagination of us all and now warrants mentions on national radio and television. It is known throughout the land that it is happening - so although it is simply 'a foot race' it carries within it the dreams and hopes and complexities of each individual that takes part and all the families and friends who have supported. It brings us together in a sense of community and, as Rob mentions, to run a marathon stretches you to find out more about yourself at every step of both the training and the racing.

Now of course not everyone has to run a marathon! But stretching ourselves to be open to see and know ourselves is a risk that makes us feel alive - find out who we are. In Vena's article she courageously shares her own aspirations in love - to love with an open heart fearlessly and completely without any so called safety - and so it is with setting out on any journey - whether to embark on a new relationship, start a new project or run a marathon, there are no guarantees - but it is important to fully commit, both feet in, only then can you reap the full rewards and find out all there is to find out on the journey. There will be riches in every step if both feet are stepping all the way!

Fiona ran the London Marathon yesterday - she ran a best time and days earlier had put together her first edition of Running Free magazine. A year ago as we ran over the downs together she was dreaming of being on the elite start line of the London Marathon and being the editor of a magazine - a year later both have happened. Through her example of fully committing to her goals she is an inspiration - demonstrating that committing to being ourselves, being courageous and 'going for it' gives us all confidence to do the same!

Mark Cooper sets off on his adventure from Amsterdam to Barcelona and I caught up with him and Wayne and Cavan, his fuel sponsors, in Edinburgh. We all met on twitter - we can reach out to so may now and see that we are all connected, that community is a global concern, that we all contribute to what is happening around us, through recognising that we are all connected. Our every interaction has the power to reach out across the world - the butterfly effect - small differences in our own immediate systems reach out and make a difference across the whole global system. So we must be conscious of what we say and think as it all has a big effect - and we can be part of any differences we hope for in the world.

With love,

Julia